Type-writer attachment



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- E. O. LEWIS.

TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT. No. 585,918. Patented July 6, 1897;

W/TNESSES V IAN/EN T0]? r W waw/ 9 Arm/MM (No Model.) v 3 Sheefis-Shet '2. E. C. LEWIS. TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT.

No. 585918. Patented July 6,1897.

ii I-I- all IIIIIII III/[IA VII/IA ,5 5 z gw {all INVENTOH WITNESSES M4 @154! W M ;W

i4 ATTOHNEM' m: norms PEYR$ an. mo'roumo WASHINGYON o c (N.0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

,-E. G. LEWIS. TYPE WRITER ATTAGHMENT.

No. 585,918. Patented July 6, 1897.

VIIIIIIIIIIIA-TIIIII/1111111114 WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

EVERETT O. LEWIS, OF l/VOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JOHN T. UNDERWVOOD, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK.

TYPE-WRITER ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,918, dated July 6, 1897. Application filed October 28,1896. Serial No. 610,264. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVERETT O. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Woonsocket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Type- Writer Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of typewriting machines wherein a printing-sheet is interposed between the type and the platen of the machine for the purpose of producing an impression upon the paper by the action of the type.

My invention is an attachment to be used in connection with such type writing machines for the purpose of sustaining and operating a printing-sheet in the field of the type, and yet so constructed as to permit of the ready introduction and removal of the printing-sheet into or out of the field of the type at the will of the operator, and my attachment may be used either with or with out the removal of the printing-ribbon, as at present employed in such type-writing machines, and I may employ either one or more of my attachments in combination with one type-writer machine, and I may use different colors or characters of'printing-sheets with each of said devices, thus giving to the operator of the machine an opportunity to select either the character or the quality of the printing-sheet which it is desirable to employ and to introduce or remove the same from the field of the type with great facility and ease.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, designating the parts by letters and figures and referring to like parts by like letters and figures.

Figure 1 is aplan view of the type-writing machine with the paper-carrying device and platen removed, showing my attachment secured to the upper side of the table of the device and withdrawn from the field of the type, but in dotted lines is indicated the position of the device when moved forward into the field of the type. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 on the lines 00 w, showing,

however, another of my attachments on the opposite side of the machine from the one shown in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 2 I show one of my attachments thrown forward into the field of the type and the other withdrawn therefrom. Fig. 3 is a plan View of my device with a portion of the carriage broken away to show the operative mechanisms beneath the top plate thereof. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of my attachment as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of Fig. 4, taken on the lines 00 as. Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing the under side of the frame or disk supporting the printing-sheet. Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the printingsheet, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the lines a 50 I have illustrated my invention in connection with the ordinary form of type-writers, such as that sold under the title of the Remington typewriter machine, but it may be employed with any machine wherein a print- 7o ing-sheet is used in substantially the same manner.

In the drawings, A represents such typewriting machine as I have described.

a is the table of the machine.

a is the gang of type-bars, of which a is one of the levers, a one of the type shown in operative position, and a one of the levers leading to the bank of keys, as a.

a and a are the spacing-levers, leading to the space-bar a a and a are reels, on which are run the ink-ribbons a and a a and a are the apertures in the table a, through which the ribbon passes.

a and e are set-screws in the table a for the purpose of holding in position my attachment.

@0 represents the platen of the machine.

I have deemed it unnecessary in this connec- 0 tion to show the carriage in which the platen is mounted or the other operative features of the machine which are unnecessary for the purpose of illustration here.

I have designated my attachment, as ap- 5 plied to the machine, as B and B in Fig. 2. The one indicated as B is shown in operative position in the field of the type and the one indicated as B is designated as not in operative positionthat is to say, out of the field of the type.

I will now proceed to describe the details of the construction of my at1 achment. b is a cross-bar provided with the slots 2 and 2, which are arranged to slide under the setscrews a? and a and to be held upon the table a by said set-screws. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that this bar Z) is provided with the upturned right-angular flange 5 which flange is again bent at right angles, as at b and on the other side of the bar I) is also provided with a flange b bent at right angles thereto, and the flange b bent at right angles to the flange I), thus forming a base on which the carrier of the attachment is mounted of a width substantially equal to that of said carrier, and also providing a space for the operative mechanisms, which I call the trigger movement of my device, as shown in section in Fig. 5 along the lines 00 0c of Fig. 4:. This trigger movement of my device may be described as follows: I) is a plate provided with the slots or ways 19 and 19 through which the plate 19 is secured to the flange by the screws 11 and b but said screws are introduced only far enough to operate as guides for the plate I), and Z2 is a binding-post on the base-plate or brace 17, and b is a bindingpost secured to the plate 19 Between said binding-posts b and Z9 is interposed a spiral spring b with its tension directed to maintain the plate 19 in the position shown in Fig. 5.

Z9 is a chain secured to the binding-post b and passing over the pulley Z2 and secured to the spacing-lever a and operated by the spacing-bar a as heretofore described.

b is a lug which is part of the plate I), passing through an aperture in the plate I)", hereinafter to be described, and operating on the lever 1).

if is a staple secured to the base-plate or brace l), and Z9 is a pulley mounted on a spindle secured to said staple b.

I) and 19 are set-screws for the purpose of elevating or lowering the attachment with reference to its position between the type and the platen.

Z7 is a plate which I prefer to call a carrier, upon which is mounted the operative mechanisms of my device for moving the printing-sheet. It is provided with a rightangular flange 19 through which passes a thumb-screw 19 which is intended for the purpose of adjusting the throw of the device, and Z9 is a lock-nut to fix said throw when the same is determined by the thumb-screw 11 6 and 17 are slots in the plate I)", and Z9 and 12 are screws to hold said plate I)" to the flanges 19 and b of the base-plate I). These screws are sufficiently loose to permit the carriage b" to slide within the ways Z7 and I9 79 is an aperture within the plate b" to permit the lug or trigger Z9 to pass through the same and operate freely within said aperture.

1) and 12 form a crank-lever pivoted at 12 said crank-arm 19 being pivotally connected with the leverv I), which is provided at the other end with the pawl Z9 and the guide Z1 is interposed to hold said lever b in position.

6 is a lug secured to the plate and I) is a knife-spring secured to the binding-post Z9 bearing on the lever Z7 at the point I1 retaining the same against the post b The lever Z9 is provided with the aperture 79 to permit the lug or trigger Z9 when my attachment is withdrawn from operative position, to respond to the movement of the space-bar without operating my attachment.

Z9 is a ratchet-wheel secured to the spindle b, which passes through a journal-bearing in the plate I). Z7 is a metal disk employed to support the printing-disk. In Fig. 6 I have shown a view of this disk, looking at the same from the under side, where it will be seen that a space is provided 19 and Z2 which is intended as an opening or aperture through which the type may act upon the printing-sheet. This disk Z1 is secured to the under side of the plate I?" by the screws 00 and 00 I3 is a locking-lever, preferably of aknifespring metal, hinged at b and provided with an indenture or notch Z). The open position of the locking-lever 6 is also shown in dotted lines.

Z2 is the printing-sheet as the same appears through the aperture h in the disk I). In Fig. 7 I have shown this printing-disk, which is mounted on a friction-button b, said friction-button having an aperture 09 of a size to make frictional contact with the spindle 12 In Fig. 8 I have shown a sectional view of the spindle 19 the ratchet-wheel Z1 the carriage-plate b", the button Z9 the printingdisk 13 the sustaining-disk 6 and thelocking-lever b I have shown these parts separated and in position to be run together, and it will be noted that the spindle Z7 is provided at one end with an annular indenture or groove I). It is intended that the notch Z7 of the locking-lever 19 shall slip into this annular notch 19 when the partslast referred to are run upon the spindle b and hold the same in position together.

The operation of my device is as follows: I introduce the printing-sheet Z9 between the disk Z2 and the carrier Z2 by first releasing the locking-lever Z9 from the annular aperture I1 and withdraw the spindle b carrying the ratchet-wheel Z1 I then introduce between the disk b and the carrier Z7 the printing-sheet b" and again introduce the spindle 13 through said printing-disk and through the supporting-disk b and cause the lockinglever b to move in a position shown in Fig. 6,. thus locking together the parts indicated. The friction-button Z7 as heretofore stated, has a central aperture 00 which makes frictional contact with the spindle Z9 It will be manifest, therefore, that said printing-disk will be carried by said spindle and the button the slots 2 and 2.

b is of sufficient thickness to separate the supporting-disk Z2 and'the under side of the carrier I), thus permitting the printing-disk to move freely between said supporting-disk and carrier with the movement of the spindle Z2 and the ratchet-wheel B It will be understood that I present to the paper to be impressed that side of the printing-sheet which is most favorable for the transmission of the ink to the paper. I then secure my attachment to the table of the typewriter by the screws c4 and a, passing into I may partially adjust the same in these slots, so as to bring the attachment in the right position; I so adjust my attachment with reference to the operative field of the type that when the deviceis drawn back in the position shown in Fig. 1 the printing-disk will be out of the field of the type, and when it is thrown forward, as inmy attachment B in Fig. 2, the printing-disk will be within the field of the type. This adjustment may be facilitated by the operation of the thumb-screw. b and the set-screw 19 I find this adjusting device also convenient when it is desired to shift the printing-surface of the printing-sheet, so as to bring a new surface into operation when one surface is partially exhausted. I then secure the chain 19 to one of the spacing-levers connected with the spacing-bars, as When my attachment is thrust forward-that is to say, when the carriage b" is caused to move in the slots Z9 and b into the position shown in Fig. 3- the trigger Z9 is in position to engage the crank-lever Z9 and with the operation of the space-bar from time to time as the type-writer is operated the plate I), carrying said trigger Z2 is caused to reciprocate first in the power of the spacing-bar and it is then retracted by the spiral spring b With the movement of said plate and trigger in the power of said spacing-bar said trigger 19 engages the crank lever Z2 and causes the pawl 17 to engage the ratchet-wheel 17 thus moving the printingdisk one step and thus presenting to the type a fresh printing-surface. WVhen, however, the carrier Z9 is retracted into the position shown in Fig. 1, the trigger Z9 responding to the movement of the space-bar, moves within the slot 13 of the lever I). Thus the movement of said trigger during the period that the carrier Z2 is Withdrawn is an idle movementthat is to say, it does not affect the lever B and therefore the printing-disk is stationary.

I may employ my device either singly or duplicate--singly, as shown in Fig. 1, and duplicate, as shown in Fig. 2or I may use either one or two attachments in association with the ordinary inking-ribbon of a type-writer or without such ribbon, as convenience may dietate. The advantage of using several printing-sheets is that I may employ printingsheets of diiferent colors or having ditferent qualitiesthat is to say, some printing-sheets are prepared with inks or coloring-matters that will duplicate in an ordinary letter-copying book, while others have the quality of being indelible and not capable of copying. With the ordinary arrangement of the typewriter ribbon it is necessary, when it is desired to use a copying-ribbon or non-copying ink or to introduce a new color, either to reel off the copying-ribbon and introduce another or to carry two on the reels, thus necessitating the winding and the unwinding of the reel with each change.

My device is intended to provide a convenient means of rapidly changing the printingsheet and readily introducing another. Moreover, in the ordinary printing-ribbon only a limited part of the ribbonthat is to say, usually the center thereofis brought into the field of the type, whereas with the arrangement that I have shown by the adjustment of the thum b-screw Z9 I may bring substantially the whole of the printing-surface of the disk employed into the field of the type. Moreover, these disks may be introduced and removed with great readiness and facility. Furthermore, I may use a disk made of materials which could not be used as an ink-ribbon because of their lack of tensile strength. Furthermore, my attachment is capable of very convenient economical use in connection with what is known as the mimeograph process of duplicating type-written matter. As the mimeograph process is at present operated, the ink-ribbon is first removed. Under the present arrangement of type-writers this requires the unreeling of the ribbon and the removal of the same from the field of the type, for it is necessary in that process to bring the type directly in contact with the wax sheet from which it is desired to make a stencil.

In the operation of my device all that is necessary is to withdraw the carrier of the attachment, so as to remove the printing-sheet from the field of the type. This done, the machine is ready to receive the wax sheet which is employed in the preparation of the stencil used in what is known as the mimeograph process.

I may employ as the printing-sheet to be used as my attachment any of the well-known printing-sheets which may be used for this purpose; but I prefer to use a thin paper, as this is more economical.

What I claim is- 1. In a type-writing machine the combination with the type and platen, of an inking sheet suitably mounted on a reciprocating carrier to move said sheet into and out of the operative field of the type, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writing machine the combination with the type and platen, of an inkingdisk suitably mounted on a reciprocating carrier, to move said disk into and out of the operative field of the type, and means operated by the movement of the type-Writing machine, to rotate said disk, substantially as described.

3. In a type-Writing machine, the combination With the platen, of an inking-disk suitably mounted on a reciprocating carrier to move said disk into and out of the operative field of the type, and means operated by the movement of the type-writing space-bar to rotate said disk, substantially as described.

4. In a type-Writing machine the combination With the type and platen, of an inkingdisk suitably mounted on a reciprocating carrier to move said disk into and out of the operative field of the type, said disk being secured to the carrier by a spindle having at one end a ratchet-Wheel, with a pawl for said ratchet, and a trigger engaging said pawl, operated by the movement of the machine to rotate said disk, substantially as described.

5. In a type-Writing machine the combination with the type and platen, of an inkingdisk suitably mounted on a reciprocating carrier, to move said disk into and out of the operative field of the type, said disk being mounted on said carrier by means of a spin dle, having at one end a ratchet-wheel, with a pawl for said ratchet, and a trigger engaging said pawl while the disk is in the field of the type, said trigger being operated by the movement of the machine, substantially as described.

6. In a type-writing machine the combination With the type and platen, of an inkingdisk suitably mounted on a carrier, said carrier being mounted to reciprocate on a frame secured to the top plate of the type-Writer machine, at either side thereof, to move the disk into and out of the operative field of the type, said disk being mounted on said carrier by means of a spindle having at one end a ratchet- Wheel with a pawl for said ratchet, and a trigger engaging said pawl While the disk is in the field of the type, said trigger being operated by the movement of the space-bar, substantially as described.

Signed at VVoonsocket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, this 22d day of October, A. D. 1896.

EVERETT O. LEWIS.

WVitnesses:

WALTER E. GREY, JEFFERSON ALDRICH. 

